Bang Bang - San Diego

Japanese restaurant · Gaslamp

Bang Bang - San Diego

Japanese restaurant · Gaslamp

1

526 Market St, San Diego, CA 92101

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Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null
Bang Bang - San Diego by null

Highlights

Asian fusion restaurant & club with sushi, drinks & lively atmosphere  

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526 Market St, San Diego, CA 92101 Get directions

bangbang-sd.com
@bangbangsd

$$ · Menu

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526 Market St, San Diego, CA 92101 Get directions

+1 619 677 5650
bangbang-sd.com
@bangbangsd

$$ · Menu

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Last updated

Aug 7, 2025

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21 Gaslamp Restaurants and Bars That Are Actually Worth Trying

"Sushi boats, specialty rolls, and sake bomb headline the menu at the Asian fusion restaurant with a happy hour Wednesday through Sunday and VIP bottle service. The location turns into a lively venue where producers and underground artists perform after hours. Designed by the creative team, Gillian and Mauricio Couturier (Wolfie’s Carousel Bar and redesigned Mr. A’s), the Gaslamp restaurant turns into a nightclub with an enormous disco ball." - Helen I. Hwang

https://sandiego.eater.com/maps/best-gaslamp-restaurants-downtown-san-diego
View Postcard for Bang Bang - San Diego

Juanita La Shell

Google
Went for a good friend's birthday dinner. Definitely loud! We were there at 830pm on a Saturday. Turns into a club after dinner. Our dessert got rushed because we were over time to clear the table for the dance floor. Food was excellent! Super fresh sushi. The only thing was the waygu in the appetizer was SUPER tough which was a bummer, still super tasty though! We ordered big, had a group of around 8 and bill was like 1300.

Tu Holmes

Google
Went by here at the mention of the concierge at the Grant Hotel. I guess it’s a sushi restaurant by day and a dance club my night. It was worth every penny. The food was excellent. The sushi was great. There are some interesting Nippon inspired drinks on the menu. Once food is over, the club picks up and it’s a really good experience. Highly reccommended.

Addie Kern

Google
Went for happy hour with a couple of friends. We got there around 5:30 and were seated within 10 minutes. Got the spicy tuna from the hh menu (good) and salmon belly nigiri(great!). Drinks were pretty good. Wait staff was attentive, and were able to make alterations for a friends avocado allergy Atmosphere was cool, if a little dim and a little loud (as clubs typically are, but it was still 6pm and a dining area)

Nat

Google
Bang Bang? More like Boy Bye.. I had a terrible experience eating here. The ambiance is cool and it seems like it would be fun for the nightclub aspect but I do not recommend eating here. The cooks have absolutely no idea what they are doing. We ordered sushi, chicken katsu, and salmon. The sushi was ok but the chicken katsu was dry and flavorless. It tasted like it had been sitting under a heat lamp for hours. Also, they did not bring the slaw that was supposed to come with it. The disaster of the whole night was, however, the salmon. Everything about it was wrong. The rice was not coconut rice, it was jasmine. I did not get the steamed veggies it was supposed to come with, and to top it off the salmon was undercooked!! Gordon Ramsey would make a scene. The only good thing was that the server was extremely nice but overall this was one of the worst experiences I had in San Diego. They also overcharge for the shots so beware of that. It's a cool place but definitely just come here for drinks - the food is awful.

Krystine L

Google
Nightclub meets sushi! I enjoyed this place for what it was, I love dance music and I love sushi. The decor is fun and memorable, even the bathrooms are entertaining. That being said it's pretty loud and I don't think I'd want to eat dinner here again. There was an obnoxious drunk guy dancing around the tables trying to get women's attention, not what I want when eating dinner. I had the hello kitty roll and it was very good. The service was great, our waitress was really lovely. We were celebrating 3 birthdays and they did not skimp on the free dessert! Just wish they had a vegan option, lol. The restaurant turns into a club and if you're there for dinner they'll give you wristbands, it wasn't really our vibe and we left right away after checking out the dancefloor though. Definitely a good place if you want to eat, drink and dance to untz untz untz.

jack kapp

Google
Made a great time for my wife and I on her birthday. Very loud and dark in there so don’t go for intimate conversation. But accommodating and fun environment. After around 9 or so turns into a club so be sure to get there early if you want to sit down.

Chloe Lemus

Google
We went here for my cousin's birthday. Loved the rooms. Our server was awesome. If you want to go there for hangouts or get together this is a place.

Azzam Aziz

Google
You're definitely not coming here for the food, because it's below meh. However, the atmosphere is really nice. The music is on point, tables are nice, the dancing area is nice too. All the staff are well dressed and nice.
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Jan H.

Yelp
I have been here twice now and am looking forward to going back. The food is so amazing and the decor is cute and fun. I know it turns into a club during the evening, but I have not been there for that, only to dine. There are 2 sides you can dine in, and I've been on both sides. My favorite one is the side that has the disco ball and dj booth with the flowers everywhere. It is such a cute place to take pictures, and they play good music as well. It's also pretty lit up. The other side is a bit darker, is by the bar, and not really decorated much. We've tried all of the specialty sushi rolls except the Bruce Lee, and they were all very good. I especially liked the Coco Chanel, and the Gosling. The won ton nachos are also . For appetizers, we had the calamari, creamy fried shrimp, and the miso. I'd definitely have these again. The prices are a bit high, but not much more than anywhere else. Plus it's downtown so I expected to pay a bit more. Parking can be tough, but there are lots close by and street parking.
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Mahima R.

Yelp
LOVE this place!! I always try to come here before partying in gaslamp district because it has such a great party atmosphere. The music is loud and it's got a clubbing feel, you can definitely dress up a bit for this spot, which I appreciate. The service is super friendly! We were able to move our reservation easily for a large party. Food is honestly super delicious, definitely more of an Asian fusion so not the most authentic sushi , but the fish is very fresh and the flavors are delicious. Drinks are great too! Definitely a nice spot to go before going out in gaslamp district. If you're looking for a quiet authentic experience, this is not it. But if you want a super fun party experience with yummy Asian fusion, definitely recommend.
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Antara S.

Yelp
Interior is cute and service is very nice. Sushi is good but very overpriced. What we really did not like was that we didn't get free entry to the nightclub within the restaurant even though we had paid for dining (the cover was $15 per person AFTER the "dining guest discount"). My group had spent over $200 on dinner and feel as though the club experience should be included for those who are paying for the meals there, as the meals are very expensive. Regardless, this is an iconic downtown SD spot that everyone should visit at least once. The bathroom decor is specifically famous, and so is the whole vibe of the restaurant. If you are planning on clubbing though, I recommend looking for some deals or just going to another place with cheaper cover (there's a ton around that are walking distance.
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Michael W.

Yelp
Pulled up excited because it was a great video I seen on TikTok . Has great deal of stairs you must climb to get in and they decor is funky . I go to the reception desk and they say kitchen closesd so we asked if we could get a drink and they said let us ask and then they said no so yes this is no for a early night they shut us down earlier from even trying . And those stairs aren't worth the climb ‍
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Jessica G.

Yelp
Disappointing experience lol We went for my birthday dinner and was such an interesting place. We were there at 7pm and my husband left his ID on the kitchen counter....they gave him the HARDEST TIME and almost didn't let him in. I understand policy but when we got in there and saw the place was literally entirely empty, it made it even funnier that they wouldn't let him in at first. Food was decent. Would not return when there are so many other nearby options.
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Lily S.

Yelp
Went to bang bang for my friends 18th birthday and it was super fun. Weird rule that you have to pay 500$ or more if you have a large party, makes sense but also a bit wild, and extremely expensive. The ambiance was the most wonderful part about this place. The food was above average, my favorite was the Yamaguchi roll. Definitely more of a place I would come to for drinks and appetizers rather than a full dinner. The service was very casual and servers were nice. Average speed of service.
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Somi J.

Yelp
Definitely make reservations. This place was more for bigger group on Saturday nights to go out. Majority of them were six or more group of people just out here. I read a lot of reviews about slow Service so as soon as we sat down, we ordered everything we wanted. There are two different rooms, one with the big disco ball, and one with where the dj was playing the music by the time we were all done. I would have to say, music wasn't it.. even though we were planning on staying there after the food, we left. Because nobody in my group was vibing. For food wise. It was ok. We should've ordered two boats for 10 people because 1 was not enough. Some of us ordered individual rolls and I had hello kitty and that was pretty good and spicy! I would have to say, our server did her best, food was alright, music wasn't it. However they do have Ryan Gosling bathroom in women's bathroom so there's that...
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Diana R.

Yelp
Came here for a Lunar New Year event that was held and it was really interesting seeing how the space is transformed for the San Diego night life. Be advised that there is a line to get in so either arrive earlier to avoid the wait or be aware that you will be outside waiting. Once you walk up the flight of stairs up the atmosphere is definitely there. After my bf and I were all checked in we were very pleased with how large the space is and how aesthetic it is with the somber lighting and pops of blue and red. Since we arrived a bit early we saw up close how fast the staff works to move tables and open up the space even more. There are two rooms and each one is playing different music. This night was house music and early 2000s hits. I really enjoy the fact that they have two separate rooms since you can bounce between two different kinds of music. The drinks here are also delicous (which can get dangerous) but just a bit pricey but that is to be expected. The bar tenders are very kind and give great recommendations. Overall it was a fun night and I really enjoyed the entire vibe of the club. I am looking forward to returning in the future.
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Kelsey N.

Yelp
I was nervous to come here for my cousins bach dinner bc of the reviews but I kept hearing this was a SD staple we had to try. I thought overall for a group it was fun. We got the sushi boat to share plus a couple appetizers and it was enough for my group of 6 to split! We also got some really strong cocktails (which for $20 a pop they better be) and had a good time. Our server was nice even though I think she lowkey made our check out to be for 7 people so that she could get the large party tip. I know this place turns into a club on the weekends and it looks like itd be really fun. It's in downtown around a bunch of other dance spots so it's a good place to start the night! They had a dj spinning live records the night we were there which added a really cool vibe. I want to come back when this place turns into a club to see how it is.
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Brittaney L.

Yelp
Came here for their NYE party! The restaurant turns into a club at night. The pros: two rooms makes it very spacious. They have the main club room which is decorated so nicely, but gets pretty packed. The bathrooms are big too. Staff is super friendly. Cons: the main bar is in their backup club room which is usually pretty empty. They just push their tables to the side in the room to make space for the dance floor. It's not very nice feeling in there and looks like they put minimal effort in transitioning from restaurant to club. Might as well keep the tables instead of making it look like a storage room. It was good for one night out, but my least favorite club so far in San Diego.
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Giselle S.

Yelp
This spot is definitely a birthday place ! What's cool is you have dinner then dancing right after. Service by our waiter excellent but the bar people not so nice . Must order for me was the Japanese Pot Some people don't think it's worth it but it's definitely an experience place . I hate that they don't have hooks for purse when seating
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Sandra P.

Yelp
Man this place was such a good time. I have to come back during day time when they have food. I heard the sushi is pretty good so I have to come back. We came at night and they had music playing. The aesthetic in here was dope. Cocktails were good too.
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Rachel L.

Yelp
So this spot is kinda a hidden gem from the streets to a longggg (exaggeration) set of stairs to get to the restaurant.. it's not that bad but I'd watch out if you or anyone else has had quite a few drinks though! Aside from that cautious note, the drinks are so good! Went for happy hour and the drinks and food did not disappoint. I had the cool as a cucumber and it was very refreshing. Me and my girl friends had some fried rice which was shareable between us 4 but probably more comfortably between 2 for a fuller tummy.. and the sushi was amazing and fresh tasting. You have to try the hello kitty! I'll definitely go back and try more off their menu! Oh and ladies, don't forget to visit Ryan Gosling in the ladies room *wink wink*
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Mrinalini K.

Yelp
Really liked the concept of this place. We were there on a Friday night and the lights were dimmed, they had a DJ and projector was playing various music videos on a large screen in front of the restaurant. Service was pretty good and food was good as well. Food and drinks were a bit on the pricier side. The dishes were good but the sushi was nothing I'd really rave about. You're pretty much paying for the ambiance and the party that's going on around you. There's a separate room where they start the night's club scene. On the weekends you can see what DJ is playing and buy a ticket to get in. Sometimes they will give you a complimentary wristband if they see you at dinner. Overall, I liked the vibe and would return for the party :)
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Natalie K.

Yelp
Bang Bang? More like Boy Bye.. I had a terrible experience eating here. The ambiance is cool and it seems like it would be fun for the nightclub aspect but I do not recommend eating here. The cooks have absolutely no idea what they are doing. We ordered sushi, chicken katsu, and salmon. The sushi was ok but the chicken katsu was dry and flavorless. It tasted like it had been sitting under a heat lamp for hours. Also, they did not bring the slaw that was supposed to come with it. The disaster of the whole night was, however, the salmon. Everything about it was wrong. The rice was not coconut rice, it was jasmine. I did not get the steamed veggies it was supposed to come with, and to top it off the salmon was undercooked!! Gordon Ramsey would make a scene. The only good thing was that the server was extremely nice but overall this was one of the worst experiences I had in San Diego. They also overcharge for the shots so beware of that. It's a cool place but definitely just come here for drinks - the food is awful.
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Mariya G.

Yelp
I've eaten a lot of sushi in my life and this place seriously has some of the best sushi I've ever eaten. The Bruce Lee roll is a personal favorite but you really can't go wrong with any choice on the menu - every dish is packed with flavor and the cocktails are all unique and delicious. The club is also really fun if you enjoy house music! Love the decor.
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Cara E.

Yelp
Where do I start... I love places like this. Obviously, I'm used to loud music and what not given my line of work, but whenever a place somehow manages to fuse food and nightlife in a way that makes sense, it scratches this always nagging itch I have. Yes, it's gonna be loud because music plays a part in the ambience, but somehow they still manage to make dinners feel intimate and special....? It's a trapeze act, but the staff at Bang Bang make it work. I went with a squad of people while I was celebrating my birthday in San Diego recently. Full disclosure, this is a place that is *definitely* a treat: it can get VERY expensive depending on what and how much you order. That said, it was a celebration, so we balled out. I'm not one for sushi (seafood allergy), so I opted for the katsu, veggie egg rolls, and chicken gyoza. The egg rolls are a must order: crispy, salty, and just the right balance of richness and texture. The sauce they came with was also next level. The gyoza was also really solid: I would order again, but if I had to pick, the egg rolls edge them out. As far as the katsu goes, it was some of the best I've ever had. Katsu is the epitome of a simple food to make that's easy to mess up -- when it's done right, it's great; when it isn't, it's VERY disappointing. Bang Bang managed to find that great middle ground of crispy, yet tender. The sauce it came with was also spot on as was the side of rice (but I'd be shocked if a sushi spot messed up the rice). The rest of my crew ordered a variety of sushi rolls and they all seemed super pleased -- including my manager who drove down from LA to meet us whose standards are *insanely* high (I think he got the fatty tuna and he said it was bomb). I can't wait to come back next time I'm in SD.
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Luiza M.

Yelp
I've heard lots of great things about Bang Bang but my experience here was not good. Had a large reservation for my birthday (12 people) and arrived/sat on time. It took about an hour and a half for our food order to be taken and another half hour for the food to actually come. Before the food even arrived, the restaurant was getting ready to change into a club and we were told we either had to pay the cover charge or leave before 10, but our food hadn't even arrived... they didn't make us pay the cover but they definitely hurried us out once the food arrived, constantly checking if we were done. The sushi was fine, extremely over priced for what it was, the place is cool with the best bathroom in all of SD (iykyk) but the experience makes me never want to return.
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J'Ceelinn S.

Yelp
Dear Mr. Bang, Worst experience I've ever had in San Diego. We arrived for our 7:30 reservation and we're greeted by massive flight of stairs which isn't a big deal but we have 9 girls in heels celebrating a bachelorette party who are having cocktails, there was no signs for the elevator. The host took 8 minutes to greet us, when seated at our table for 9, 2 different servers walked by and took our 3 chairs we had at the table for the other girls who were still on their way. When the rest of our party arrived they had to stand while we waited for more chair & the server looked absolutely irritated that she had to find chairs. We placed our order of drinks, 3 of the 9 cocktails came first, 7 mins later the remaining 6 came out. We had the same situation with food, however, 3 COOKED plates came out first and 25 mins later the raw plates came out, and 2 of our guest were already done eating. It was totally unacceptable, when I asked the server when we should expect the remaining food she snapped and said "it's coming" One guest in our party went to use the rest room and the busser cleared her plate without asking which led us to having to ask for chopsticks and a plate again, which the server once again was super rude about. The remaining of our time, we were being rushed to finish up. The experience was no enjoyable and we will definitely NOT be back, and will let others know to skip this "trendy" place. *they also don't do anything special for bachelorette parties*
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Kevin S.

Yelp
Atmosphere was nice, low key and great place to hang out and be able to talk without it being too loud. Food was good, we got a few rolls, sashimi, etc. Prices were a bit high, $12 for a basic California roll?? It was a great roll but we're not in New York Service was very mediocre, the server never brought and ginger or wasabi with the sushi, and we got a few spicy rolls and never got a fresh jar of water until we were basically done and had to ask multiple times. It was not that busy inside. Overall food and atmosphere was good but for the price and service I wouldn't go back
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Veronica N.

Yelp
My cousin and I were exploring downtown San Diego, we saw this place nearby and decided to have it for dinner. You will find the restaurant up the stairs, the ambiance and setting is nice. Jesse was our server, he was very attentive and always checked with us throughout our dinner to see if we needed anything else. Creamy shrimp: 8/10 good portion size, seasoned well but thought shrimp would be bigger Calamari: 7/10 I didn't feel like the calamari was as appetizing, the sweet and sour sauce went well with it but I would've liked it if it was more crunchy and filling Karate kick: 9/10 This was my favorite roll, it's a fried roll with crab and cream cheese. It has spicy mayo on top which went very well as a sauce Hello kitty: 8/10 It's interesting how it's wrapped in pink soy paper, hence the name and I would get this roll again
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Jules B.

Yelp
While in SD with family and friends, we all were craving sushi and decided to go to here -as someone in our group found Bang Bang on a Google search. Ambiance is fun, sexy and party-ish. The loud music, DJ and neon light signs ...is why I say "party-ish". Walked in with no reservations, which was nice. Our waitress was inattentive, forgot things, slow and could of been better for the price we pay for food here. Food is nothing impressive to Yelp about. Next time, I'll Yelp -not Google search, as I understand why this place rated only 3 stars. Despite service and food being unimpressive, OMG the cutest ladies restroom ever (I'll upload the video/pics in a bit) as I'm a Hello Kitty fan :)
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Gamini G.

Yelp
We always wanted the check out this place and finally made a reservation for dinner. This restaurant always has a long line for walk in so reservation is recommended. Right off the bat, the ambiance was amazing. The lighting was a little dark to match the decor and uplift the overall ambiance. We found the stools to be a little uncomfortable but it went well with the vibe. I got the veggie roll and my friend got the hello kitty sushi roll. Both the rolls came with spicy mayonnaise. The rolls were yummy and the mayonnaise was perfect. I liked how the veggie roll had a variety of veggies and not just avocado. It was all well balanced. We realized that they had a night club party section and decided to check it out. There were disco balls and the whole dance area was amazing. We are planning to go back on a weekend night to checkout the night club. It looked splendid and fun!
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Carrie L.

Yelp
Came here with my work bestie to take advantage of their happy hour deal. We made a reservation for 5:30pm on a Wednesday and we ended up being the only guests there. We might have on an off day and don't mind it at all. Their Asian fusion happy hour food is surprisingly delicious. My favorite was their fried rice and walnut shrimp, not too salty. We wanted to get their fish bowl but it was too early in the night, will have to try it next time. Their HH cocktails were amazing.
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Rowena M.

Yelp
I went here with a party of 6 for a Bachelorette dinner. The service was great, our waitress was friendly and attentive. I ordered one drink called Strawberry Fields and I had their Spicy Handroll Flight as my meal. The drink was good it just tasted like juice if I'm being honest. I didn't taste any rum. The hand rolls were good, they were spicy. But I don't think it was anything special. The bathrooms are nice and this place is somewhat obsessed with Ryan Gosling lol This place was good but I felt that it's overpriced for the quality and taste of the food
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Travis C.

Yelp
Nice, trendy Asian fusion restaurant in the Gaslamp district. The Happy Hour is very reasonable. You will feel like you are hiding away in a Japanese nightclub while you eat. I like the bang fried rice with shrimp, creamy fried shrimp, and the mini angus beef donburi. The drinks are great, especially the disco fashioned, which is a version of an old fashioned.
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Caroline L.

Yelp
My favorite spot for good food and good music! Service is great, sushi is high quality, and they book some of the best DJs!
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Brett P.

Yelp
Hey this bar has a lot of potential but I think a $20 cover charge is a little out of hand. Mostly males. No perception of the vibe and overall not worth the cover. I pulled up with a crowd of girls and almost All of them got sexually harassed. I would have left sooner but after paying $20 we didn't really have the option to find a better spot. Hopefully this place figures it out. I asked for a refund at the end of the night and a rude girl told me I stayed too long to get refunded.

angela L.

Yelp
Fantastic ambiance!!! Great food and drinks!! This is my favorite place to visit in downtown SD
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Robin L.

Yelp
I went here in 2016 and I loved it so much I wanted to come here for my bachelorette. I was a little disappointed they didn't have the fishbowls anymore but damn those teapots were delicious !!!
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Suelin K.

Yelp
Context: We had a party of 11 celebrating a bachelorette on a Saturday night. We made reservations about a month in advance. Pros - Fun decor (bathrooms, ambiance, etc) and definitely a "vibe" place - Nice server - Lots of bachelorette parties (up to you if this is a pro or con) Cons - It's really really loud, and the music was ok. It wasn't "get up and dance" music, but it was playing at a club volume so it really hurt the ability to have conversations with a large group. - We wanted to check out the club space after, but were told we get a "discount" on the cover cost ($20 vs $30). 1) there were no people at the club yet, and 2) we just spent $800 on dinner, and you're saying we can't take in the whole experience? Seemed cheap. - Food was mediocre. You don't come for the food, but you'll have enough distracting you (the decor & music) that maybe it doesn't matter. Drinks are expensive but tasty! Overall, I feel we overpaid. High level a fun place for pics, but was disappointed at the end to end experience.
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Reesa Z.

Yelp
Took my little brother here for his birthday. Waitress was kind and friendly. Food was okay and overpriced for what it was, but it was expected. It was not as lively as I was hoping for on a Saturday night but maybe we were just there early. Would try it again.
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Pam R.

Yelp
I wanted to LOVE this place. And I did love the service and atmosphere. Unfortunately, however, their food wasn't great. We ordered off the happy hour menu. The spicy yellowtail roll tasted NOTHING like yellowtail (and I've been eating sushi for about 50 years.) It tasted like some random leftover fish (tuna maybe), marinated in the spicy stuff. And it was dry (go figure). The fried rice had no flavor. Zero. Only the tempura shrimp was good. Maybe the regular menu is better. The place is adorable, however. Can't beat the atmosphere here.
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Aiko N.

Yelp
This place was SO not my vibe. It was like a nightclub: loud, dark, neon lights etc. Granted, I came for a friend's 30th birthday and we were out to do it up all over town; have fun and make memories. But this restaurant was too cramped and stuffy and weird: someone loves Ryan Gosling enough to plaster a life-sized wallpaper of him in the restroom, along with naming menu items after him. The service sucked! We had two tables of about 8 people each, and the server barely came to take the order from our table. Two people wanted bentos, and we had to flag someone else down to ask because after our guy took our drink orders, he didn't come back for a long time. One friend at my table wanted katsu, and that plate showed up without us even ordering it. We wondered how, until a worker came by SEVERAL minutes later and said "oops wrong table" and proceeded to take it to a different table and serve it. Um, what! The sushi boat (ordered for us by someone at the other table) was beautifully presented; it had fire and flowery decor. The steep stairs to get in were fun for me to hover around; especially watching the drunk, stumbling women who were trying to leave. :) Overall, I would not choose this place nor come back if friends wanted to go.
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James B.

Yelp
Super legit spot! They have a cool food menu for the early hours of the night. Then after 10 it turns into total club vibes! This place goes off! The vibe is AMAZING! . You have to go here at least once if you are in San Diego!
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Zana K.

Yelp
My first time here and i was not let down! The vibes here are completely surreal. The whole restaurant is very dimly lit and accented with neon lights and modern fixtures. Our waiter Jesse was so fun and attentive. All the staff were really professional and friendly. We ordered the party boat to share along with other rolls and drinks. The boat comes with several types of rolls for $130. I split it with about 4 people which came out to a little over $30's each. The rolls were really good and i felt that the boat was worth it when split with several people. We had such a great time celebrating my friends birthday. We had a bunch of complimentary birthday desserts which included mochi and strawberries it was a very nice touch to a great dinner experience. I would definitely come here if youre looking for a fun, intimate dinner with friends.
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Tiara D.

Yelp
The VIBE was everything. We LOVED the decor and ambience in this spot. Upon arrival, you are greeted with a subway-ess stairwell with white tiles. Once upstairs, there is 3 separate areas. One for Sushi making, one with a cool disco ball, and another with cool lanterns everywhere and a bar. The room with the lanterns was extremely warm and the disco ball room was nice and cool. We stuck with waters this night, so no comments on the drinks. We orders the Coco Chanel roll, the Hello Kitty and the vegan roll. All the rolls were very delicious and well made, full of all the Yumminess. We also ordered the calamari which tasted like old grease and a seaweed salad which was good. Our waitress was attentive and nice. The bathrooms were clean and had a really cool decor.
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Dominique R.

Yelp
I was suggested this place on multiple occasions so I decided to make reservations for New Years Eve (you might think OMG not new years it'll be chaotic) well thankfully I made reservations for 7:30pm before the night became chaotic. In order to get to the top of the restaurant- there is a long staircase up (heels are not ideal trying to go up and down these) and there's no elevator. I don't even want to know how one climbs down or up when intoxicated lol. The restaurant also becomes a nightclub after 10pm. The entire atmosphere is so surreal. Definitely feels like you are in Japan. The whole restaurant is dimly lit and accented with neon lights. Our waitress was amazing and attentive even on this busy night. For drinks: Cool as a cucumber- tequila, agave, cucumber, lychee, lime and tajin rim. When a fire starts to burn- tequila, agave, passion fruit, lemon, fire water bitters. Each drink was tasty and excellent. For appetizers: Spicy garlic edamame Bang bang puffs - crab blend mixed with roasted corn, cream cheese, spring roll paper wrap and deep fried served with a sweet chili sauce. These was BANGLICIOUS! They was so tasty and the sauce was the perfect touch. For sushi: The Gosling- spicy tuna, shrimp tempura, jalapeño with yellowtail, chive and house chili aioli Godzilla- crab, shrimp tempura, avocado topped with tuna, tobiko, micro cilantro, chipotle/habanero sauce. Bang bang- crab, avocado, asparagus topped with salmon, seared with jalapeño and spicy pico de gallo For dessert: Cheesy cheesy bang bang - cheese cake, mix Berrie coulis and whipped cream. Everything was delicious and well crafted. This restaurant is a vibe and worth checking out!
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Zakira J.

Yelp
I would recommend going here for drinks and vibing to the music, if you're into house music. But I wouldn't recommend coming here for the food. Sadly I only ended up taking one video of one of the rolls we got because I was already displeased after trying it. The rolls are very overpriced, for being small and quite bland. We were a party of 8 and none of use were satisfied with what we got. I would much rather go somewhere else for sushi. But if you're looking for a unique place to drink with friends or whoever, then I would come here for that.
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Paula S.

Yelp
A Memorable Celebration at Bang Bang: An Authentic Japanese Experience My husband and I decided to surprise our daughter on her 23rd birthday with a dinner at Bang Bang, and we were thrilled with the experience!!! From the moment we walked in and checked in with the hostess to meeting our attentive waitress, the service was outstanding. The food was simply delicious, and we indulged in a variety of mouthwatering dishes, including the Hello Kitty, Kill Bill, Gosling, spicy tuna roll, spicy yellowtail, and more - each one a delightful treat. The cocktails at Bang Bang were a highlight of the evening. We ordered the "I need a wifey," "cool as a cucumber," and "strawberry Fields" - they were top-notch and truly enhanced our dining experience. The ambience at Bang Bang was one of a kind - it boasted an authentic and strong Japanese theme that created a fun and unique atmosphere. The entryway design, resembling the Tokyo subway system, added an extra layer of excitement to the dining adventure. It's undoubtedly a perfect place for a special occasion or event. Our waitress went above and beyond to make our evening exceptional. She ensured our table was well taken care of and went the extra mile to make our daughter feel cherished on her birthday. As a delightful surprise, she brought over a delicious dessert with a candle, making the celebration even more memorable. Overall, we are immensely grateful to Bang Bang for making our night a truly special memory for our family. We highly recommend this establishment for anyone seeking a cool Japanese dining experience coupled with excellent service and a unique ambience. Kudos to the entire team at Bang Bang for a job well done!
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Braidy G.

Yelp
Great atmosphere and an awesome place to take pictures. The drinks are also great with the espresso martini being my favorite. Unfortunately, the sushi itself isn't so good. The service was not so great either. We had to request a couple of things twice before we got them and it took about 45 minutes to get our food.
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Rachel S.

Yelp
I've only ever sampled some of their happy hour food and mainly attended live music events. Get a little wild at night but I always loved the venue and vibes. It is pretty crowded in the intimate show space.
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Shreya K.

Yelp
Can't comment on their food service but if you're thinking of celebrating an important night like a birthday or bachelorette party (as it was in our case) do NOT COME HERE FOR THEIR CLUB. An absolute huge waste of money - their bottle service was the biggest disappointment ever. First off, they brought a congratulations sign for about 5 seconds and it looked like a high school project - no lights, just printed text on a poster board vibes. Secondly the music was absolutely terrible. Not sure where this budget DJ got his jams from but we ended up ditching our table and going to Sidebar instead which was 1000x better. Another party who had a table also left early - which should tell you all you need to know considering the price. A good $1k in the drain for a crap ass time. Sidebar was luckily a great time and highly recommend folks consider going there if they have a special celebration.
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Emily L.

Yelp
The service here was really good, our server was very nice. Atmosphere is cool, the music is a little loud but it's a unique place. The prices are pretty high. We ordered the garlic edamame which was really good, the cucumber salad was ok, the avocado rolls were good. However, we got the fried rice with chicken which was a mistake. Since the restaurant is very dark I couldn't see that the chicken was UNDERCOOKED before eating a few pieces. I would not come back here.
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Justine H.

Yelp
Bang bang is a fabulous place to come out for a fun, and picture-worthy night but overall you go into it knowing the service forgets about you, the food takes forever to come out, it's all expensive, it's extremely loud and hard to hear each other over the really big tables, and even the bathroom line is insane. I'm all for getting your pics at the entrance stairwell and inside with all the lanterns but I'm not coming for a good experience. To top it off, we came in at 9:30pm and, while we were still waiting on food, by 10:30 they already started clearing out the tables and chairs to open up the dance floor! I felt so rushed to eat and very uncomfortable because it was clear they wanted us gone too. Sad to say I left pretty unsettled and disappointed.
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Phillipjan C.

Yelp
My visit was on Saturday 06JUN2023. I had been invited and attended my girlfriends cousins graduation dinner. I had never heard of this place and took a shot in the dark coming here with no heads up about this place. First up, the establishment itself was decent. The aesthetic was amazing but the floors were squeaky, sticky, and I understand the building itself was old, but damn. If I wasn't having a good time I would be paranoid of the floor collapsing below me. There's two sides one side has the bar and the other has the "dance floor?" The food was amazing! I got the bang bang puffs for my appetizer and the all I short ribs for my entree. The puffs were made to perfection and I made the mistake of taking a big bite of one as it came out with no time to cool down. The short rib entree came with broccoli and mashed potatoes. I asked to sub out the mashed potatoes for rice but they failed and brought out rice on the side. Everything was still amazing! The service, the service was a bit slow but that's understandable because at the time it was pretty busy. The one thing I loved was that at the end of our time there, we had told the server of my girlfriends moms low visibility and he let us take the elevator and he walked us out to ensure safety. Big kudos to that guy! Overall, I give that trip an 8/10. I would definitely add this to one of my go to places, but maybe not til next year when the renovating is all done.
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Micki K.

Yelp
Good solid 4 stars, service was great, food was so so for the prices I would have expected better, had a some good rolls but nothing spectacular, very cool space, more of a club lounge atmosphere. Music was bumping and the bar selection was good. Would definitely come back for a date night or a evening with the girls.
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Briana S.

Yelp
Maybe it was because was came on a busy night but this was kind of a let down for me. The ambience, the decor is so beautiful. I loved the aesthetic of the place and the bathroom was so cute since I love hello kitty. We had a very nice server, however the food was not it for me. My group of 4 was seated at about 7:45, our drinks came first, then 2 chicken katsu plates came out. My friend was still hungry after eating his plate. The sushi however did not come until 9:30. So two people in our party finished way before the remaining got to even eat. I got the hello kitty roll and it was okay nothing super special about it same with the drink I got the strawberry field and didn't really taste the alcohol. I might retry this place on a day it is not busy, but for my first time I was a lil disappointed I wanted to love it so bad.
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Cindy J.

Yelp
Me And My family came out to celebrate my brothers 36th birthday. We heard the vibe here was great. What I can say about is that the service is top notch , our waiter Jesse was so good to us as well as the bartenders and other staff. Not forgetting about the food ! We had the edamame and fried calamari for appetizers as well as their wings which made you forget about any other wings spot ! I'll be dreaming of those. And after came in our sushi boat the roll party which was on another level either that or the drinks were finally kicking in. Bang bang really put the bang in those drinks. So good and The aesthetic was worth it all so cute and fun. Thank you Chino and Jesse we'll be seeing you soon !
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Martin M.

Yelp
I've been wanting to come and vibe at Bang Bang for a while. Finally was able to make a reservation so we showed up around 7 PM. Upon entry the ambience was awesome and we were greeted promptly. After we were seated, the waitress was very attentive and everything was taken care of service wise. To start, we got the cucumber salad as well as the chicken dumplings . We ordered the Yamaguchi roll, the bang bang roll, and the Coco Chanel for sushi. They all seem to taste OK , nothing crazy about them. We did end up leaving there with a bit of a stomach ache later on but wasnt 100% sure where it was from. Overall, I would come back for the ambience and drinks but don't have too high of expectations for the food. Was just decent.